Senior Iranian official visits Saudi Arabia

Iran Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian met yesterday with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal in Jeddah to discuss regional developments and the “fight against extremism and terrorism”, Iran’s representative to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Riza Hamid Dahqani reported.

Dahqani said the meeting between Abdollahian and Prince Al-Faisal “was very good and fruitful and aimed to benefit both countries and the Arab and Islamic nation. We are discussing with our brothers in Saudi Arabia the bilateral relations as well as the challenges facing the region such, as extremism and Israel’s savage aggression.

“The meeting with Prince Saud took place in a very positive and constructive atmosphere,” Abdollahian said.

Dahqani pointed out that the talks also included “mechanisms to confront extremism and terrorism, and the need for the Islamic nations to unite in order to meet these challenges”.

The meeting comes after the Islamic State (IS) took control of large areas in Syria and Iraq.

When asked whether a date had been set for the Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to visit the Kingdom, Dahqani said: “This is up to the future, but it is inevitable”.

The visit is the first by a senior Iranian official to Saudi Arabia since President Hassan Rouhani took office in August last year.

Iran’s Donya-e-Eqtesad newspaper said the visit is “a first step towards improving relations between Tehran and Riyadh”.

Abdollahian visited Riyadh in June to participate in an IOC meeting.

Saudi authorities have invited Iran’s Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif to visit the Kingdom but he turned down the invitation saying he was busy with the nuclear negotiations that were taking place at the time.

Rouhani expressed his desire to improve relations with neighbouring countries, especially Saudi Arabia.